Ireland hit the Faroes for six

Ireland 6 Faroe Islands 0: Carla McManus’ hat-trick, added to by Alannah McEvoy’s brace and Heather Payne ‘s late strike handed Ireland a 6-0 defeat of the Faroe Islands in their first game of the UEFA U17 European Championships opening qualifying phase.

Just 12 minutes in and the Irish had the lead; Alannah McEvoy applying the finishing touch at the back post after Heather Payne’s good work. They hadn’t to wait long for the second; the bright McEvoy doubling her tally, again linking with Payne, but this time finishing low into the bottom left-hand corner from 20 yards.

Ireland’s third arrived on the hour-mark, as sub Carla McManus applied the finishing touches to Tiegan Ruddy’s slip before the pair combined moments later for Ireland’s fourth. This time unintentional as McManus controlled Ruddy’s attempted shot before rolling it under the onrushing Mikkelsen.

There was still time for Bell’s relentless side to add two more through Payne and McManus’ hat-trick to go top of the group.

Ireland: E Turner (Shelbourne); L Lobato (Salthill Devon) (T Mannix (Cork City WFC) 48), S Doyle (Galway WFC), D Fahey (Peamount Utd), L Grier (Kentstown Rovers) (O Casey (Wexford Youths) 72); M Mackey (Chelsea), T Ruddy (Peamount), T Toland (Maiden City); H Payne (Peamount), A McEvoy (Enniskerry), I Carolan (Enniskerry) (C McManus (Peamount) 56).

Faroe Islands: E Mikkelsen; S Jacobsen, RJ Olsen (S Olsen 56), P Andreasen, JN Mortensen; R Olsen, R Danielsen; RKK Olsen, J Tórolvsdóttir, S Lamhauge (J Henriksen 72); E Hansdóttir (M Ramusdóttir 41).

Referee: I Velevackoska (MKD).